At the closing ceremony of EVS36 held on the 14th (local time) in Sacramento, California, the World Electric Vehicle Association officially announced that the venue for the 37th World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS37) will be Seoul, South Korea, in April 2024.
The chairperson for EVS37 will be Sunwoo Myungho, a distinguished professor at Korea University, recognized globally for his expertise in future mobility. Professor Sunwoo assumed the presidency of the World Electric Vehicle Association in June this year and also serves as the president of the Asia-Pacific Electric Vehicle Association.
The EVS37, set to take place at COEX in Seoul next April, has already seen inquiries and reservations for over 500 booths, making it poised to be the largest event in the symposium’s history.
Since its inception in 1969, EVS has been the oldest and largest electric vehicle exhibition and symposium globally, often referred to as the ‘Olympics of Electric Vehicles.’ WEVA hosts this event annually in collaboration with regional electric vehicle associations in Asia, Europe, and North America. It attracts significant attention from global automotive and electric vehicle industry stakeholders, presenting a platform to discuss future mobility directions while showcasing the latest EV trends through a large exhibition.
Next April, EVS37 will be organized by WEVA and EVAAP, with the Korea Society of Automotive Engineers (KSAE) hosting the event. This marks the third time the event is being held in Korea, following previous events in 2002 and 2015. Analysts in the electric vehicle industry see this as an acknowledgment of South Korea’s crucial role in leading the global electric vehicle movement.
In this regard, Chairperson Sunwoo stated, “EVS is the most reputable electric vehicle event in the world and is held annually in leading cities that excel in the electric vehicle sector. South Korea, being a trendsetter in the global electric vehicle market, hosting renowned global automotive brands and having advanced charging infrastructure, makes for an attractive venue for EVS.”
In fact, domestic electric vehicle sales reached approximately 163,000 units in 2022, with forecasts of growing to 250,000 units by 2025 and 440,000 units by 2030. The production of batteries, a core component of electric vehicles, increased by 34% year-on-year to 123 GWh in 2022 and is expected to reach 1,132 GWh by 2030, capturing 30% of global production (Source: SNE Research, January 2023).
The theme for EVS37 in 2024 will be ‘The Electric Wave Towards Future Mobility.’
The Korea Society of Automotive Engineers, which oversees the EVS37, believes that this symposium will not only provide insights into the future direction of Korea’s electric vehicle industry but also facilitate networking among globally recognized South Korean electric vehicle companies.
Meanwhile, EVS36, held in Sacramento, California, from June 11 to 14 (local time) and organized by WEVA and the North American Electric Vehicle Association (EDTA), focused on the theme ‘Driving the Transition to E-Mobility.’ Over 400 companies from various sectors, including automotive manufacturers, charging infrastructure, and battery industries participated, showcasing their technologies and products while engaging in in-depth discussions on electric vehicle developments.
EVS36 garnered attention for its location in California, a leading state in electric vehicle adoption in North America. California has recently taken significant steps towards phasing out internal combustion engines, with its government announcing the ‘Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales Rule’ to prohibit the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles, marking a first in the Americas.
As a result, automakers must increase the proportion of electric vehicles in their new car sales to 100% by 2035, with penalties for non-compliant companies. Given that California is the largest automotive market in the U.S., its policies are expected to influence regulations in other states.
Written by Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr